2023 Lafayette Square U-Haul crash

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Coordinates: 38°54′0″N 77°2′11″W / 38.90000°N 77.03639°W / 38.90000; -77.03639
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2023 Lafayette Square U-Haul crash
Map
Location
Ford F-650 truck (with Nova Scotia
Venture)
Deaths0
Injured0
AccusedSai Varshith Kandula

On May 22, 2023, a U-Haul truck crashed into the north barriers of Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. The driver, Sai Varshith Kandula, is accused of having intended to seize power.

Incident

At approximately 9:35 p.m.

Nazi swastika from the back of the truck. A bystander noted that the hood of the vehicle was "smoking" and its undercarriage was leaking.[3] President Joe Biden was not in danger.[4]

At 9:40 p.m., the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department was summoned. The Secret Service evacuated the nearby Hay–Adams Hotel and searched it as a precaution.[5] The evacuation order was lifted at 1:00 a.m.[6] A remote-controlled robot opened the back of the truck, finding only a hand truck. No fatalities or injuries were reported.[7]

Investigation

The National Capital Response Squad of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Park Police, and Secret Service are investigating the incident.[8]

Accused

The suspect is believed to be Sai Varshith Kandula (born 2003/2004) of

Nazis, specifically their "authoritarian nature, eugenics and their one world order", and looked up to Adolf Hitler. Kandula graduated early from Marquette High School in January 2022 and was a member of the school's student council and its boys' tennis team, according to the Rockwood School District. He has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threatening to kill or kidnap or harm a president, vice president or family member, the destruction of federal property, and trespassing by the Park Police and depredation of property by the Secret Service.[10] The home of Kandula's parents was searched by the FBI's Evidence Response Team the following day.[11]

In an initial hearing, Kandula's friend and a fellow member of the track team, Errion Barfield, wrote that he "wouldn't hurt a fly" yet would wear a surgical mask bearing Biden's name to provoke a reaction, adding that he intended to major in computer science. Barfield stated that Kandula didn't appear to be suffering from mental illness. A prosecutor said that he was not a citizen of the United States.[12] The Department of Justice later confirmed to ABC News that he had a green card.[13] Kandula was denied bond at a federal court hearing on June 9, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 13.[14]

Responses

Donald Trump Jr. suggested the attack was a false flag and later pointed to Kandula's Indian origin, writing, "If the threat of white supremacy is so real, why do they have to outsource all the hate?"[15] Conspiracy theories about the attack began spreading on Twitter from verified accounts, with some theories connecting the attack to the disappearance of a 30-ton shipment of explosive chemicals and the Patriot Front march onto the National Mall earlier that month.[16] President Biden was briefed on the attack and was "relieved no one was injured" and "grateful to the agents and the law enforcement officer who responded so quickly".[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Reports: U-Haul van crashes into barrier near White House". CBS News. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Patrick; Welker, Kristen (May 22, 2023). "19-year-old arrested on multiple charges after crashing into barriers near the White House". NBC News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Dakss, Brian; Freiman, Jordan (May 24, 2023). "19-year-old Missouri man arrested in U-Haul crash at White House security barriers". CBS News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Rabinowitz, Hannah; Kay Mallonee, Mary; Campbell, Josh (May 24, 2023). "Man accused of ramming U-Haul into barriers near White House praised Hitler after his arrest, court filings say". CNN. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Weil, Martin (May 22, 2023). "Truck, driver scrutinized after crash near White House, official says". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Smith, Patrick; Welker, Kristen (May 22, 2023). "Driver arrested and Nazi flag seized after truck crashes into security barriers near the White House". CNBC. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Howard, Nathan (May 23, 2023). "Driver detained as truck crashes near White House; Nazi flag found". Reuters. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "U-Haul driver faces multiple charges after crashing into security barrier near White House". CBS News. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Whitehurst, Lindsay (May 23, 2023). "Missouri man accused of deliberately crashing U-Haul truck into security barrier near White House". ABC News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Sullivan, Eileen (May 23, 2023). "Driver Who Crashed Truck Near the White House Threatened to Kill Biden". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  11. St. Louis Post Dispatch
    . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  12. ^ Jouvenal, Justin (May 24, 2023). "Man who rammed barrier near White House is not U.S. citizen, prosecutor says". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  13. ^ Thomas, Pierre; Barr, Luke; Peterson, Beatrice; Minore, Lauren; Shalvey, Kevin (May 24, 2023). "Man who wanted to seize power struck White House barrier with truck, law enforcement says". ABC News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Jouvenal, Justin. "Man who crashed U-Haul near White House planned other attacks, prosecutor says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  15. ^ Figluzzi, Frank (May 25, 2023). "Donald Trump Jr. isn't calling law enforcement liars just for the fun of it". MSNBC. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Owen, Tess (May 23, 2023). "Teen with Nazi Flag 'Intentionally' Crashed into White House Security Barriers and Made Threats, Police Say". Vice. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  17. ^ Hermann, Peter; Alexander, Keith; Jouvenal, Justin; Sands, Leo (May 23, 2023). "Man with Nazi flag who crashed U-Haul near White House praised Hitler". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
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